In regards to wearing a money belt, or an under the clothing purse, My son, while leaving the Baptistry in Florence was approached by a woman holding an infant in her left arm. Begging with a bowl outstreched in her right hand, she got in close, and managed to undo his shirt, and get the money purse partly unzipped, with her LEFT HAND. the one holding the "baby" was a false arm, her real one was available to rob him. The "baby"was also fake.
Last week, as a friend and I were leaving the Baptistry in Florence, same scam.
I think they may watch people reach for their money as pay the admittance fee to the Baptistry. My friend also kept his money under his shirt.
I had just told him about the fake baby scam the day before, so he easily side stepped the woman.
Be careful

My husband had his wallet picked from his front pocket on the bus to the Vatican. (He's always said he'd know if someone tried his front pocket. Ha!!) That day we met a Swedish couple... the husband was wearing cargo pants and... yup... they found the right pocket...on the subway.
So, lessons learned. Also, I live in New York city and frequently you will hear bus drivers on the Madison avenue route warning passengers that p.ps are on board. Father of a friend(visiting NYC for the first time) was done in on the Mad Ave bus.

Witnessed the most satisfying attempt at pickpocketing in Paris a few years ago. I rarely ride the metro because you cannot see anything . . but it started raining and I got on the Metro at the Louvre, and struck up a conversation with a Russian (I was living in Moscow at the time) . . He was a big strapping fellow and halfway thru the conversation, as he was looking over my shoulder, he lunged at a guy who had his hand in a woman's backpack . . he picked the guy up by the back of his neck, spun him around and delivered what can only be described as a blow to future generations of this guys family . . of course, he dropped to the floor and started vomiting . . his partner in crime made the mistake of trying to defend his compatriot, and promptly had most of his fingers, one of his arms broken and his jaw dislocated . . all this was on a packed car, with a couple of dozen passengers frozen in fright, then subsequently applauding.

The two poor devils got off the metro at the next stop while we all laughed at them. . We got off because of the smell in the car and I complemented the Russian on his response and offered to buy him a drink. . which he accepted. Turned out he was part of Yeltsin's security ( by now Yeltsin was a private citizen) and was on his day off.

All in all one of the most rewarding Metro rides I have had.

Rich

Also, be very careful in flea markets in Paris. We watched two thieves basically stalking two female tourists one afternoon while they were shopping, until I couldn't stand it anymore. I walked up behind the thieves, close enough so they knew that they were being watched, and made eye contact with them while the ladies turned down another isle. The thieves then took off -- looking for easier prey, I'm sure.

Flea markets are a perfect environment for thieves. The shoppers are distracted, they are carrying cash and the isles are narrow. You are always bumping up against someone.

have been to europe 50+ times and have never been pickpocketed or seen it happen to anyone else. Have seen only 2 incidents of street crime.

In Madird in the Plaza Mayor two young boys (12/13?) apparently stole a magazine from a news stand - and I saw them brought down - literally tackled by a pair of cops. Who then stood there screaming at them for several minutes, retrieved the magazine and let them go. (Perhaps it was porn they were too young to have?)

The other incident was an obviously stoned young man with the munchies who grabbed a handful of salad from the plate of a young woman eating in a sidewalk cafe in Paris. He was so stoned he just stood there muching on the salad and looking goofy. The young woman (she and her companion were both dressed in beautiful black suits with matching pumps etc - obviously junior execs out to lunch) and her companion started screamng and the cafe proprietor ran out with a broom and beat off the young man. then replaced the salad.

Both incidents were really funny at the time - and even more so in retrospect.

I have experienced only one attempt at picking pocketing - here in New York. Three very inept young women surrounded me in Macys and under cover of holding up a couple of blouses to look at tried to confuse me and get into my purse. They were so bad it was obvious what they were doing; I dropped the hangar I was holding pulled my purse in front of me and screamed "security". They were arrested almost immediately - and apparently did have wallets etc from other customers.

I think the key if this kind of thing happens is to yell/scream police, point at the person who did it and create as much fuss as possible. Don;t be afraid to look silly - just cause a gigantic scene. That will give you the best chance of getting your stuff back - they'll drop it rather than risk being caught with it.

We have not (yet... fingers crossed) had problems in our travels in Europe. While money belts are good, they are awkward in terms of easy access so it is nice to have some cash and other items available.

On one trip we were worried about the potential and a friend had extolled the virtues of Tilley's "travel trousers" (which had saved him from being pickpocketed in Barcelona). We didnt want to buy an entire travel wardrobe, so I came up with a low-cost parallel:

I made slight (and temporary) modifications to our clothing - I sewed a velcro strip 1/2 inch inside and running almost across the entire opening of one pocket on each pair of trousers/shorts etc. that we took (sewed on, not stuck on since the "stick" doesnt hold well). Pockets still lie flat and the velcro isnt visible. The pockets are fairly easy to open if you make the velcro a bit shorter than the pocket.

I dont know if anyone tried to get into a pocket, but the slight "tug" required as well as the slight noise of velcro opening should at least make the process conspicuous to you, but wasnt loud enough that it was noticed by anyone around us.

Grandma

>My husband had his wallet picked from his front pocket on the bus to the Vatican.<

Which brings up my second rule: Put safety pins on your pockets.

never been pickpocketed in Europe.
By have been 3 times here in Wilmington!
My new rule: I should be more alert here as I am there.